Comparative Assessment of the Effect of Sirjan Salt Playa Nebkhas on Quicksand Stabilization Using AHP Method

The exact identification of the limiting factors is necessary for recognition of ‎environmental crisis in every region‎. The invasion of quicksand into human centers is considered one of the important problems of the Sirjan salt playa. Each year the Mobility of quicksand entered damage to settlements, roads and farmland. Nebkas, in local scale, are representing potential of quicksand stabilization by vegetation, in the other word, ecosystem is trying to adjust the pressure of windy erosion and stabilize quicksand by creating this feature. The aim of this study is comparative assessment of Nebkas of Sirjan salt playa and introduction of appropriate type for quicksand stabilization, using analysis of nebka morphometric parameters via Analytical Hierarchy Process model. First morphometric parameters such as volume of nebkha, nebkha elevation, vegetation canopy cover, plant height, nebkha diameter and nebkha slope, 392 nebkhas for species Tamarix mascatensis, Reaumaria Turcestanica, Alhagi manifera and Seidlitzia florida was sampled with transect method. The results show that Tamarix Macatensis Nebka, with weight of 0.615, has the highest importance in stabilization of quicksand. Seidlitzia Florida Nebka, with weight of 0.249, has secondary order. If that is developed and implemented, will have the highest productivity. Reaumuria turcestanica and Alhagi mannifera Nebkas, respectively with weights of 0.070 and 0.064, have the lowest efficiency and their development is not suggested in any way.